Eating Healthy has Benefits for Your Teeth.

An apple a day may keep the dentist away. Well, not really but it is part of good part of eating healthy, which is a good for preventive dental care. Parents can help themselves as well as their children prevent tooth decay and cavities by monitoring their eating habits. Lead by example, offer children healthy snack alternatives such as apples, bite-size carrots or other foods that are naturally sweet, and instruct children to avoid candies, chocolate, and other foods that contain refined sugar. If your children see you eating healthy they are more incline to eat healthy too.

How should you take care of your mouthguard tips

• Make sure to clean your mouthguard by washing it with soap and warm (not hot) water.
• Before storing, soak your mouthguard in mouthwash.
• Keep your mouthguard in a well-ventilated plastic storage box when not in use. Make sure the box has several holes so the mouth-guard will dry.
• Heat is bad for mouthguards, so do not leave it in direct sunlight or in a closed automobile.
• Do not bend your mouthguard when storing.
• Do not handle or wear someone else’s mouthguard.
• Call your dentist who made the mouthguard if there are any problems with your mouthguard

Preventive Dental Care and Mouthguards

One way preventive dental care is over looked, is by not wearing a mouthguard when need. A mouthguard can prevent serious injuries such as jaw fractures and neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw. Mouthguards are effective preventing laceration and bruising of the lips and cheeks, especially for those who wear orthodontic appliances.

Part of having good preventive dental care habits is cutting down on carbonated beverages, fruit juice and acidic foods can harm teeth. Acid in our food can cause enamel to wear away. When that happens your teeth are at a higher risk for tooth decay

How can your dentist tell if you have acid reflux.

Acid reflux, is caused when the esophageal sphincter, which separates the stomach from the esophagus, allows acid to seep out of the stomach. Often times this acid can cause heartburn, but not always. In the absence of heartburn symptoms, one of the first indication that a person may have acid reflux is by the erosion of the enamel on their molars or on the backside of their teeth.

Since your stomach acid can eat away at the enamel on your teeth, your dentist may be the first one to notice the symptoms of acid reflux when he or she detects tooth enamel loss. If detected, your dentist may refer you to a specialist, who may prescribe treatment or recommend lifestyle changes specifically for the treatment of acid reflux, such as avoiding acidic foods.

My teeth are really yellow and all the over the counter whitening products do not help. Can I get Veneers for my teeth.  

Reply:  You can get dental veneers for yellow teeth.  However I would first talk to dentist about having your teeth professionally whiten.  A dentist can whiten your teeth much better then any over the counter product.  Whitening is also much cheaper then dental veneers.  

If you choose to get dental veneers make sure you talk to a cosmetic dentist and keep in mind that both teeth whitening treatment and dental veneers are normally not covered under most dental insurance plans.  If you wish to save some money of these types of dental care services I would suggest looking into a low cost dental discount plan which can save you around 15 to 20 percent

I do not want to buy dental insurance on a regular bases.  I would like to buy a dental plan to get a dental check up and cleaning done since is see many dental insurance provide this service at no cost.  However can I cancel the plan right after having this service provided.  Or am I forced to keep the plan.   

Reply: You will need to read the terms and conditions of the plan you are looking at. Some insurance plans do require you keep it for a year. Where as other plans have long term waiting periods which would be okay for you if all want is preventive care but may not work out very well if it is determined you need additional dental services other then preventive care.  You may want to look into getting a dental discount plan since most of this plans will let you cancel with a 30 day written request. As long as you buy based on monthly payments and not yearly.

Although sugar is bad for your teeth it is not the only villain that undermines healthy teeth. Acidic, low-pH foods such as sour candy, soft drinks, and fruit juices will also soften teeth.  Too much of these types of food can result in enamel erosion and diminished tooth size.  

Dentist warn to stay away from ultra-sour, ultra-sticky, ultra-sugary candies such as Warheads and Toxic Waste.  However even sour gummy vitamins can be culprits.  It is suggested that if you are going to consume highly acidic foods, do it during mealtime to help minimize the effects by consuming them along with other foods.

Does baking soda help to whiten your teeth?  I can not use over the counter whiten strips because I have braces but can baking soda help? 

Reply:  Baking soda can help to white your teeth however you should not use baking soda to whiten your teeth when you have braces. Baking soda is believed to erode orthodontic glue and fasteners. Before trying to whiten your teeth talk to your orthodontic dentist first to make sure you do not damage your braces.

Have a dental appointment for a root canal. However I am not sure that it would be best to have a root canal or just pull the tooth. What is best in the long run?

Reply: Normally when a dentist can save a tooth with a root canal they do not suggest pulling it. You want to keep your teeth whenever possible. However if you choose to pull the tooth then you will need to think about what you are going to do afterwords. Such as are you going to leave a gap, get a bridge or dental implant. If you leave the space empty it can cause your other teeth to shift over time. If you go with a dental bridge then you are having to crown the two teeth on either side of the gab to make a bridge and bridges do not always last a life time. Dental implants are more costly but they do last a life time with proper dental care habits. Talk over your options with your dentist and see which one you feel is right for you

Cranberry juice has been hailed as a healthy beverage choice, but it also appears to stop the bacteria that causes cavities and gum disease, according to preliminary research from the University of Rochester. In one study, two doses of a beverage with 25 percent cranberry juice stopped bacteria from clinging by as much as 85 percent.

Seniors may experience the problem of gums moving back from the teeth which exposes  tooth roots to plaque. This can result in teeth that are sensitive to temperature and are more at risk of decay.  However a dentist can help you address any receding gum issues.

According to the ADA (American Dental Association) sugar in soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks can lead to tooth decay. Acid is produced each time sugar comes in contact with the bacteria in your mouth. This acid eats away at your teeth for about 20 minutes after yo u take a sip and this acid can result in cavities. Unfortunately, diet soft drinks and carbonated water are not any better.

The ADA says that most soft drinks also contain phosphoric and citric acid, which can cause tooth erosion. To improve your dental health, you should try to limit your soft drink consumption and instead snack on nutritious foods. Other dental health tips include making sure you brush twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly for a check-up.

Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay. If your main source of drinking water is bottled water, you may be missing out on the decay preventing benefits of fluoride. This  according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Most bottled waters do not contain optimal levels of fluoride and some do not contain any at all. If you just prefer drinking bottled water, consider using tap water in other ways, such as when preparing meals and for mixing juices and powdered drinks.

Your teeth are more important to your overall health than you might think. In prior post we talked about tooth loss. By losing your teeth, you not only look unhealthy, but tooth loss may be a warning sign of a serious health problem. Identifying dental and overall health issues early gives you a greater chance to recover quickly and prevent future complications. Even if you are engaged in bad oral hygiene habits in the past, you can make a fresh start today and prevent further damage to your teeth.

There are many seniors that suffer from arthritis or have other dexterity problems, making it difficult for them to brush and floss their teeth and maintain good dental care habits.  Here are some tips that may help:

1) Use a wide elastic band to attach the toothbrush handle to the hand.

2) Enlarge the toothbrush handle with a piece of wood or plastic.

3) Use an electric toothbrush.

4) Tie the ends of floss together, making a circle before flossing or use a floss holder.